Pamplemousses Botanical Garden & Chateau Labourdonnais
April 22 - Day Trip 3
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
Today we visit the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden near Pamplemousses, which was originally established in 1735 as a vegetable garden for the French governor and is today one of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere.
The idyllic park covers 37 hectares and features more than 500 tree species. The main attraction is certainly the rare giant Amazon water lily and the Indian lotus. The park also houses over 80 palm species, including the Talipot Palm and a gigantic Baobab tree.
The main entrance has no official parking facilities, so locals try to earn a bit by "guarding" your car. A secondary entrance has plenty of free parking.
Since there's no kiosk in the park, it's advisable to bring food and drinks.
We have visited many botanical gardens around the world, but this one is definitely among the most beautiful.
A visit to the botanical garden of Pamplemousses belongs on every Mauritius travel itinerary.
Chateau Labourdonnais
Before heading back, we make a quick photo stop at Chateau Labourdonnais further north. The chateau is a testament to colonial life and has been faithfully restored. The large estate can be visited for an entrance fee. Since we had already seen several such houses, we found the 350 rupees per person too expensive and settled for the exterior view. If you want to immerse yourself in colonial times, you should visit the chateau.
Continue reading the Mauritius travel guide: The Casela Nature and Leisure Park
